Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 158

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 158

 

“She’s not falling behind?”

 

“Indeed.”

 

Mujin, who was descending along the northern foothills of Silver Flower Mountain, looked extremely surprised.

 

In truth, Zhuge Munhyeon was also inwardly astonished.

 

Below them as they ran through the dense forest stepping on tree branches, Tang Ihwa was quickly pursuing while keeping track of their position.

 

‘Amazing.’

 

He couldn’t help but be impressed.

 

He could guarantee that even in his previous life, he hadn’t often seen someone with that level of physical strength.

 

Even though they were somewhat slowing their pace out of consideration for her, to think she could keep up with Wudang’s Cloud Ladder Technique combined with the lightness skills displayed by the former Heavenly Demon.

 

She was clearly compensating for her lack of internal energy with her natural physical strength.

 

And this was despite the considerable weight of the protective gear and hammer she wore.

 

Even those Hwangbo Family members, who were said to all be giants with tremendous strength due to their bloodline, would probably have to yield to her.

 

‘Ah, perhaps… does she have that bloodline mixed in?’

 

That could be possible.

 

Just as he had come to the Tang Family for Zhuge Munho’s political marriage, other martial world noble families also formed such political alliances.

 

Though they competed with each other, their blood relations were so complexly intertwined that they could be considered one big family.

 

Perhaps that was also the reason why the Central Plains united to resist whenever they faced crises.

 

At some generation, at some point, the blood of two families would have mixed.

 

Well, now wasn’t the time to worry about such things…

 

“Mujin, let’s increase our speed.”

 

“What? But Iron Tree Dan is…”

 

“We’re not going on a leisurely outing right now. If we keep considering Iron Tree Dan, we’ll lose them.”

 

“Hmm…”

 

“Hurry.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Mujin answered reluctantly and shouted toward Tang Ihwa on the ground.

 

“Miss Tang! We’ll go ahead first.”

 

“Yes! I’ll do my best to follow! But please be sure to watch the sky!”

 

She answered vigorously even while panting.

 

However, no matter how tremendous her strength was, it was impossible for her to pursue Zhuge Munhyeon and Mujin, whose speed had doubled as they descended from the mountain.

 

Thump, thump, thump… thump…

 

The two raced across tree branches like fired arrows, and her footsteps quickly grew distant.

 

But what did she mean by watching the sky?

 

Mujin, who had been harboring that question, asked Zhuge Munhyeon worriedly.

 

“But is it really okay to just keep running north like this?”

 

“Of course it’s not okay. There’s no guarantee they’ll only run north.”

 

“Then wouldn’t it be better to bring professional trackers to pursue them…”

 

“How long do we wait for that? The distance will only grow wider. Right now we have no choice but to chase them assuming they’re heading north.”

 

“We’re just going to run? When we’re not even certain?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

I fully understand why Mujin is tilting his head in confusion.

 

The possibility of finding them by blindly running in one direction is slim.

 

I’m just considering the characteristics of Demonic Sect members who escape as far as possible without changing direction when fleeing.

 

The proper way to pursue enemies is to bring professional trackers to find footprints and use broken tree branches and such.

 

“Young Master Munhyeon, this is too reckless. We’re just running, aren’t we?”

 

“Just running? This is the process of closing the distance between us and them as much as possible.”

 

“There’s no guarantee they’re ahead of us just because we close the distance, is there?”

 

“Of course not. But… if we just close the distance, the Tang Family will tell us their exact location.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

His expression asks what I’m talking about.

 

“Hah, you don’t know much about the Tang Family, do you?”

 

“…”

 

He seemed to think he knew more than Zhuge Munhyeon, at least.

 

He who had learned from Master Uncle and Senior Brothers who had actually been to Pyoju, not just read about it in books.

 

But he didn’t bother to retort and just pouted.

 

If he had seen it, he would have smacked his head, but Zhuge Munhyeon, who was running ahead and missed that expression, continued speaking with a smile on his lips.

 

“You know that along with the Dark Bang, the Tang Family’s greatest force is the Poison Bang, right?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“The poisons they use are broadly divided into two types. Natural poisons and artificially made poisons.”

 

“…?”

 

“But where do those poisons come from? Insects, plants, trees, and beasts. There are many others too.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“But finding these things isn’t so easy. It’s not easy to find something in dense jungles like Yunnan. There are places people can’t easily approach. So what do these guys do? They learn taming techniques.”

 

“Taming techniques?”

 

“Right, taming techniques. You’ve heard that the Tang Family controls snakes and scorpions, haven’t you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Mujin perked up his ears.

 

He had thought he would know more, but Zhuge Munhyeon’s words were quite professional.

 

“But they don’t only tame poisonous creatures. Though it can’t compare to Yunnan’s Beast Palace, they also tame beasts.”

 

“Beasts?”

 

“Right. The original purpose is to deploy them in areas where human entry is difficult, but in practice, they’re used in other ways too.”

 

“That’s impressive.”

 

“Impressive? How is it different from taming pigeons to use as messenger birds? It’s simple if you know the method.”

 

“That’s true, but… only the Tang Family knows those taming methods, right? At least in the Central Plains.”

 

“Not necessarily. There are many other places too. Anyway, among the creatures they’ve tamed, there are several that are very helpful for pursuing enemies.”

 

“What kind of help?”

 

“Rodents with excellent sense of smell and fast speed, birds that look down from high in the sky and relay signals. See? Just like that one over there.”

 

Where Zhuge Munhyeon pointed as he spoke, a bird of prey was flying leisurely through the air.

 

“Did you hear what Cheolmokdan said earlier?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“You fool, were you not paying attention?”

 

“Well, that is…”

 

“She told us to look at the sky.”

 

“Ah! So that’s what she meant?”

 

“She naturally knows. While the messenger pigeon we sent was merely a warning, the messenger pigeon sent from Silver Flower Mountain will make the Tang Family move in earnest. And the first action they’ll take is surrounding the area and identifying enemy positions. It’s a method the Tang Family has used for a long time. It’s also because they possess such means that they’ve been able to reign as the kings of Sichuan until now.”

 

“I see.”

 

Nodding his head, Mujin found himself looking at Zhuge Munhyeon with new eyes.

 

Just how many books had he read for such things to come out so naturally?

 

‘I should definitely visit the Ten Thousand Books Pavilion when we return to the Zhuge Family this time.’

 

Mujin inwardly envied the knowledge that Zhuge Munhyeon possessed.

 

Of course, he had no idea that all that knowledge wasn’t from reading books, but from fighting the Tang Family in his previous life and learning it firsthand in the field.

 

* * *

 

Thud thud thud thud.

 

Late at night, dozens of riders raced swiftly along the main road.

 

The banner fluttering on the pole held by the martial artist at the front bore the image of a red great python.

 

An imugi dreaming of ascending to heaven to become a dragon.

 

It was the symbol representing the Young Family Head of the Tang Family, and in Sichuan, the power that symbol held was absolute.

 

To what extent? Even government checkpoints could be passed through in one go.

 

Running with the great python banner raised indicated they were in a state of war.

 

Tang Yeon, who had attended the retainer meeting, volunteered to set out immediately after reading the messenger pigeon sent by Zhuge Mungi. However, the size of the support force was only fifty members of the Young Family Head’s guard unit.

 

They should have sent more forces by rights, but it was difficult to mobilize the warrior units based solely on a messenger pigeon full of speculation.

 

The fact that he moved as many as fifty people meant that Tang Yeon deeply trusted Zhuge Mungi—no, Zhuge Munhyeon.

 

But then.

 

“Young Family Head! A flying eagle has taken flight.”

 

“What?”

 

At his subordinate’s words, Tang Yeon raised his head.

 

A bird of prey flying overhead.

 

Though it was night and the sky was distant, to his eyes trained in the Tang Family’s eye techniques for hidden weapon arts, he could faintly see the red cloth tied to the bird of prey’s ankle.

 

It was a bird of prey trained by the Poison Hall.

 

“…Myeongjun!”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Change direction to the nearest branch office.”

 

“Understood.”

 

A single command was sufficient.

 

The lead horse’s head turned, and the lined formation raced toward the nearby branch office.

 

The fact that a flying eagle had taken flight.

 

It’s a pursuit.

 

It meant that the news of Silver Flower Mountain being attacked had reached the Main House.

 

‘Zhuge Munhyeon’s guess was correct.’

 

They needed to quickly go to the nearby branch office to confirm the orders issued from the Main House and move accordingly.

 

If the attack had already occurred and the pursuit had begun, going to Silver Flower Mountain would be a wasted trip.

 

The injured and dead, the broken debris.

 

That should be left for others to handle.

 

Right now, chasing the pursuers was the priority.

 

Thud thud thud thud!

 

As dozens of horses thundered across the ground, the branch office gates opened wide in the distance.

 

They must have seen the great banner.

 

“We greet the Young Family Head!”

 

Dangyeon quickly passed by the guards greeting him with vigorous voices and shouted as soon as he jumped down from his horse.

 

“Bring me the message from the Main House! Quickly!”

 

“Yes!”

 

At the urgency-filled voice, the Branch Manager himself rushed out and delivered the letter along with his greeting.

 

“Silver Flower Mountain has been attacked. The enemy stole the Thunder Stone and kidnapped the Craft Bang Leader, fleeing north. Violent Dragon, the Wudang Taoist, and the Iron Wood Group are in pursuit. The Family Head has ordered all subordinate branches to halt their current activities and focus on the pursuit. The Poison Bang has deployed all available Flying Hawks and Tracking Rats at full capacity, and he has instructed to establish an encirclement network using the full strength of each bang and all branches in Sichuan.”

 

“….”

 

It was exactly as he had read.

 

Dangyeon crumpled the letter in his hand and muttered.

 

“North….”

 

It was uncertain.

 

Currently, Zhuge Munhyeon, Mujin, and the Iron Wood Group were said to be chasing the enemies, but two hours had been delayed.

 

The distance was considerable.

 

Moreover, there was no guarantee that the enemies would continue fleeing straight north.

 

“…Damn it, there’s no way to contact them like this.”

 

Dangyeon frowned, but for now, he had no choice but to trust Tang Hwa of the Iron Wood Group.

 

Since she had gone with them, she would know that Flying Hawks would be deployed, and she would have informed Zhuge Munhyeon and Mujin of this fact.

 

“Since the Main House moved too late, we’ll pursue the enemy first for now. Myeongjun, we’ll follow the Flying Hawks. Quickly confirm the direction!”

 

“Yes!”

 

While Myeongjun confirmed the positions of the Flying Hawks flying throughout the sky, Dangyeon immediately mounted his horse.

 

The escape would likely take place through treacherous terrain, but they had to ride horses as far as horses could go.

 

They needed to conserve their strength so they could fight immediately wherever they encountered the enemy.

 

“North! The Flying Hawks are heading north.”

 

As soon as he received Myeongjun’s report, Dangyeon spoke to the Branch Manager.

 

“Branch Manager.”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Organize the Warrior Corps and follow quickly.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“We need every person we can get before the Main House’s forces are fully deployed! While following, relay my orders to every branch office we pass. We must capture them before they escape Sichuan!”

 

Dangyeon, who had given the order, immediately swung his horse whip vigorously.

 

The horses that had raised their front hooves high kicked off the ground simultaneously and galloped in unison.

 

Chase after them?

 

Then does that mean to leave the branch office empty?

 

Though such doubts briefly crossed his mind, the Branch Manager didn’t think any further.

 

This was an order from the Young King who would become the future owner of Sichuan.

 

Moreover, it was a matter of pursuing the villains who had attacked the family clan.

 

“Bring the horses! All branch office personnel will immediately follow the Young Family Head to pursue the enemy! Determine the location of the flying eagles, and messengers are to relay this news to all branch offices!”

 

“Yes!”

 

Following Dangyeon’s order to change course from the path to Silver Flower Mountain and begin the pursuit, the western region of Sichuan began to stir.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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